The outbound domestic air cargo service would resume from Vijayawada International Airport from December end — after a gap of nearly eight months.
The Centre recently finalised the operator for the cargo service after calling bids based on new norms. Under these norms, the operator has to take the responsibility for safety of air cargo and must do proper screening to avoid any safety threat to the passengers travelling in the aircraft.
The earlier practice was of the Airports Authority of India taking care of the safety of cargo.
Some 18 flights are being operated from the airport per day to carry passengers to destinations like Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Shirdi, Kadapa, Tirupati and Visakhapatnam. They carry air cargo too.
The airport has a huge potential for transport of cargo comprising perishable products like fruits, vegetables, flowers, fish etc along with non-perishable products.
Vijayawada airport director M. Lakshmikanth Reddy said, “We are going to resume outbound domestic air cargo service in scheduled flights from the airport shortly.
Depending on demand from the people on the volume of cargo up for transport, there will be a chance for operation of cargo flights. We are continuing inbound domestic air cargo service on scheduled flights without any interruption so far.”
Indigo is to replace Air India for transport of domestic air cargo from Vijayawada airport.